Every time Zhao Luoning saw this jade pendant, she would recall that painful first night.
She really didn't want to remember that incident, but she just couldn't let it go.
It was just like this jade pendant. She had always carried it with her but never dared to take it out.
Unexpectedly, it came in handy here.
Zhao Luoning was a sensible person.
Although that man had hurt her, with her current identity, going to find him would be like digging her own grave.
Let this matter become the past!
Zhao Luoning hesitated for a moment but still took out the jade pendant.
She put the jade pendant among the pile of jewelry and handed it to Guisu.
"Find a reliable pawnshop and pawn it first."
Guisu recognized it at a glance.
She asked in surprise, "Madam, are you going to sell even Master's jade pendant?"
Zhao Luoning didn't react at first. She asked, "What did you say?"
Guisu picked the jade pendant out of the pile of jewelry and said, "This one. Isn't this Master's jade pendant? Madam, it's okay for you to sell your own jewelry, but do you really not need to tell Master before selling his stuff?"
Hearing this, Zhao Luoning was struck like by five thunderbolts.
"What did you say? Say it again?!"
Guisu was frightened by her reaction and said woodenly, "Madam, if you're selling Master's stuff, you really..."
Zhao Luoning didn't want to hear her repeat the rest of the sentence.
She snatched the jade pendant from Guisu's hand and asked, "Are you sure this is Ji Shisu's jade pendant?"
"Sure. I've seen Master wearing this jade pendant for many years. Of course I recognize it. It's just that I haven't seen him wearing it much in the past two years. I thought it was lost."
Zhao Luoning was extremely angry.
Holding the jade pendant, she sat there stunned on the chair.
Her absent - minded look scared Guisu.
She quickly asked, "Madam, what's wrong with you?"
What else could be wrong with Zhao Luoning?!
She was furious!
Now she was so angry that her chest felt stuffy and she couldn't say a word.
The past events flashed through her mind one by one.
The first night, the substitute marriage!
All the humiliation she had suffered, all the fear and hardships in the past two years.
It turned out that the culprit of all this was Ji Shisu!
Zhao Luoning suddenly remembered that day when she and Ji Shisu were lost in passion. Ji Shisu said she had bled for the first time and he went to throw away the sheets.
He knew everything but had hidden it from her.
Ji Shisu!
You're really something!
This was the second time she had been deceived by the people closest to her.
The last time, it was Caixue and Feixing.
And this time, it was Ji Shisu.
This time, Zhao Luoning's anger was even greater than the last time.
She had trusted Ji Shisu so much.
She who never relied on others began to rely on Ji Shisu.
She had even had a relationship with him, been completely open with him, and wanted to be a truly intimate couple with him.
But now it seemed.
All this was just a joke!
Guisu was scared by Zhao Luoning's pale - as - paper face, her angry yet smiling expression. She stepped forward, wanting to show some concern.
At this time, the guard came to report.
"Madam, Miss Chen is asking to see you."
Chen Chuliu?
"Tell her I'm not feeling well and won't see her."
Zhao Luoning really had no mind to deal with her at this time. She waved her hand, wanting to send her away. Unexpectedly, Chen Chuliu's voice had already come from outside the door.
"Second Young Mistress, you're really being so heartless."
As she spoke, Chen Chuliu lifted the curtain and walked in on her own.
The guard looked embarrassed.
The fact that Chen Chuliu was Ji Shisu's second concubine was no secret in the residence.
The emperor had sent them here to "reward" Ji Shisu and take care of him.
Most of the guards in the courtyard where Zhao Luoning lived were Ji Shisu's men. They only knew that Master respected Madam very much, but they didn't know if Ji Shisu doted only on Madam.
After all, in the military camp, Master had no way to dote on other women.
So the guards weren't sure about Master's attitude towards the concubines. When Chen Chuliu, under the name of Ji Shisu's woman, forced her way in, they didn't dare to stop her for fear of hurting her.
Zhao Luoning waved her hand at the guard and Guisu, telling them to leave.
She would deal with Chen Chuliu alone.
"Why are you interested in coming to see me today?"
As the saying goes, meet the soldiers with a wall and the flood with earthworks. Zhao Luoning quickly calmed down, showing the full aura of the mistress in her speech.
"It's Chuliu who doesn't know the rules. Chuliu is the younger one and should have come to visit elder sister earlier."
Was she accusing her of not caring about her?
If it had been in the past, Zhao Luoning would have engaged in some polite pleasantries, but now she was just annoyed.
"We're not in a relationship that deserves mutual concern. Just say what you have to say."
Chen Chuliu was stunned. She didn't expect Zhao Luoning to even bother maintaining the basic etiquette.
She had no idea that Zhao Luoning was angry at Ji Shisu. She just thought Zhao Luoning looked down on her, and her anger in her heart grew even stronger.
She stared at Zhao Luoning gnashing her teeth. It took her a long time to calm down her anger and force a fake smile.
"I heard from others some time ago that General Lian was coming back. I wonder if elder sister has discussed this matter with your husband and set the return date?"
Zhao Luoning replied bluntly, "Not set."
Even if it was set, she wouldn't tell Chen Chuliu.
If she really wanted to know, she could go and ask Ji Shisu herself.
Chen Chuliu also noticed that Zhao Luoning was in a bad mood. She pouted and said, "Elder sister doesn't need to put on a sour face for me. I'm just curious and asking out of nosiness. I guess with elder sister's current situation, I don't know how Second Master will deal with it."
Zhao Luoning remained calm, sipping her tea quietly and listening to her continue.
"Elder sister, I'm here this time to remind you. You should be more careful."
"Oh?" Zhao Luoning looked at Chen Chuliu.
This was like a weasel paying a New - Year visit to a chicken—with ill intentions.
Chen Chuliu continued to incite, "Elder sister doesn't know yet, does she? Second Master has someone in his heart. It's not Lianxiang, nor Ning Ruonian."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Two years ago, just before elder sister got married into the family, Second Master had a tryst with a virgin in Tianxiang Tower and has been thinking about her ever since. Otherwise, do you think Lianxiang and Ning Ruonian got into the family for nothing?"
"Had a tryst with a virgin!"
Zhao Luoning repeated these words word by word, almost gnashing her teeth.
Chen Chuliu really knew how to pick the right time.
She had just discovered the evidence that the jade pendant belonged to Ji Shisu.
And here she came offering the witness!
Seeing that Zhao Luoning was angry, Chen Chuliu thought her provocation had succeeded. She felt proud in her heart and continued, "Actually, Second Master didn't really need to let you fake your death and leave the mansion. I think Second Master on the surface was protecting you, but in fact he probably never thought of letting you come back to the mansion. Second Young Mistress, you've been virtually divorced!"
Virtually divorced?!
The angle that Chen Chuliu mentioned was indeed something Zhao Luoning had never thought of.
Yes, with Ji Shisu's ability.
He couldn't have failed to think about how difficult it would be for her to return to the mansion after faking her death.
Maybe, as Chen Chuliu said, he had never intended to let her come back from the very beginning.
Zhao Luoning was in a complete mess.